Learning a Foreign Language Delays Brain Aging, Study Finds: Bilingual Brains Appear 6 Years Younger

(Central News Agency, London, July 5, Comprehensive Foreign News) A study suggests that learning another language can slow down brain aging. The brains of bilingual individuals appear about 6 years younger than those of monolingual individuals, and those proficient in four languages have brains that look even younger by about 13 years.

The Guardian reported that according to a research paper presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies conference in Barcelona, people who can speak more than one language appear to have younger brains, and the more languages they know and the earlier they start speaking them, the better the effect.

The study found that people who speak two languages have brains that appear about 6 years younger than those who speak only one language. Those who speak three languages have brains that appear about 7 years younger, and those who speak four languages have brains that appear about 13 years younger.

Our brains are composed of billions of communicating nerve cells. However, as we age, the connections between nerve cells in the brain often weaken, leading to a decline in memory and thinking speed.

Previous studies have observed that residents of European countries with better language skills tend to age more slowly. This study measured the impact of speaking multiple languages on an individual's brain. Scientists from Spain, Chile, Argentina, and Dublin compared residents of the Basque region, an area known for its highly multilingual environment, where residents speak Spanish, Basque, French, and English.

To measure neural age, scientists used magnetoencephalography to measure the brain activity of 728 individuals of varying ages and language abilities. They then used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the results and calculate the normal level of brain connectivity at any given age. Subsequently, another independent group of 144 people, comprising four cohorts speaking one to four languages, also underwent scanning and comparison.

Dr. Lucia Amoruso from the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language in San Sebastián stated, "Simply put, people who speak more languages tend to have brains that appear younger than their actual age. This effect is not solely related to the number of languages spoken."

He added, "Higher language proficiency and learning a second language earlier are also associated with delayed brain aging. This indicates that the impact of multilingual experience is cumulative, and it's not just about being bilingual, but about the depth and duration of language experience."

Researchers have taken into account factors such as age, gender, and education level of the participants, but also cautioned that other factors that may influence the brain, such as lifestyle and social engagement, cannot be ruled out at this time.

Professor Christina Dalla, a neuroscientist at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said, "This study suggests that learning a second, third, or fourth language helps our brains stay younger, and the earlier we start, the better. Regardless of age, learning another language has many benefits, not only socially and culturally, but also for brain health. Therefore, even if the process is not easy, we should support language learning in schools and lifelong learning."

However, Professor Eef Hogervorst, a biopsychologist at Loughborough University in the UK, urged caution. She said that while evidence suggests that people who speak multiple languages are associated with better brain resilience, "people who speak multiple languages may also have healthier lifestyles or be more exposed to other environments and activities that help protect the brain, such as reading, lifelong learning, and playing musical instruments."